This marriage stress test involves 20 questions for married couples, related to physical and emotional health. Dr Oz gave this test to two couples on his show, and stressed that men and women experience stress – and marriage – differently.
“Couples in stressful marriages are less healthy than couples in happy marriages,” says Dr Oz. “An unhappy marriage can be as bad for your health as smoking.”
Couples in unhappy marriages get sick more often, and are more prone to sickness, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other illnesses. So, if you’re married or in a serious relationship, it’s in your best interests to deal with marriage stress as soon as possible!
If you know your marriage is unhealthy, you may find Are You Really Listening?: Keys to Successful Communicationhelpful. It’s one of the most popular relationship books on Amazon.com right now.
And, here is Dr Oz’s marriage stress test…
Marriage Stress Test
Every marriage has its challenges, but stress in your marriage may be affecting more than just your relationship. New studies have revealed that couples in stressful marriages are physically less healthy than couples in happy marriages. According to this research, unhappy couples have compromised immune systems, higher blood pressure and faster heart rates than their happy counterparts. Even more alarming, they could be at an increased risk for heart disease, arthritis and cancer.
The following stress test is comprised of questions that will help you assess your emotional and physical health. Your answers will help you determine the amount of stress in your marriage.
20 Questions for Married Couples
- When you’re upset with your partner, do you eat more?
- Is your blood pressure worse than when you first got married?
- Do you keep your innermost secrets from your partner?
- Do you prefer to be with other people than alone with your partner?
- Do you and your partner fight about money more than 3 times a week?
- Do you constantly get colds, and get cuts and scrapes that take a long time to heal?
- When you feel there is a problem in your marriage (stress), do you usually keep it to yourself?
- Are you embarrassed for your children to see how you treat each other?
- Do you resent how much you have to do in your relationship?
- Do you feel lonely in your relationship?
- Do you lie awake at night worrying about your marriage?
- Are you relieved when your partner leaves home?
- Since you’ve been married, have you gained a significant amount of belly fat?
- Do you wish you could communicate more openly with your partner?
- Do you feel like you don’t get enough praise or credit from your partner?
- Do you have more cavities than usual?
- Do you keep your innermost secrets from your partner?
- Are you getting more headaches and stomachaches than usual?
- Do you feel dissatisfied with your sex life?
- Do you fantasize about divorce or separation?
Add up the number of times you answered “Yes.” If you have more than five “yes’s”, then you have a high stress marriage. Anything above 8 is high stress – and you owe it to yourself to get help.
If you know in your heart it's time to move on, read How to Let Go of Someone You Love.
About Marriage Stress:
- Some stress in marriage is normal.
- Men and women express stress differently.
- Talk about what is going on in your marriage – don’t just assume you know.
Are you stressed about your finances? Read How to Cope With Money Stress in Marriage.
Hi,
I hv taken the test and I am in a very high stress marriage, as I hv 16 yes answers. My husband betrayed me 1.5 yrs ago and I hv not got over it. I know my stress level has been increasing ever since 2005, when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I hv reached to the level of not caring for myself properly and my health has deteriorated drastically cos this damn marriage. I do want this marriage but my husband showed no remorse nor repent. He just tell me that he would be provider . He lived his life as if nothing has happened. Til now, I still feel hurt terribly as I hv no family support. What should ido? I really feel trapped as I am a stay at home mum with 2 kids. I am trying my best to stay strong for them. Sometimes I feel I would getting cancer soon.